Scenic Florida | Preserving Florida

Home Rule

The following is one of the Florida Association of Counties's 1998-1999 Guiding Principles:

County officials are dedicated to the preservation of democratic principles, specifically the notion that the government closest to the people is the appropriate authority to serve the needs and requirements of the community.  Home rule is the right of the people to determine and implement a public purpose at the grassroots level.  Home rule powers conferred to Florida counties by Article VIII, Section 1(f), of the Florida Constitution (1968), and by Section 125.01, Florida Statutes.  The preservation of this democratic concept is essential to the operation of county governments in Florida.  Accordingly, the Florida Association of Counties is dedicated to maintaining the integrity of county home rule power, both administrative and fiscal, which allows counties to develop and implement coummunity-based solutions to local problems.